The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has announced that investigations are ongoing regarding the alleged bribery by Airbus SE, a European multinational aerospace corporation, regarding the sale and purchase of military aircraft for the Republic of Ghana, in which former President John Dramani Mahama is allegedly complicit.
According to the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, the OSP is working with INTERPOL and the central authorities of the United Kingdom and the United States under the mutual legal assistance regime as part of efforts to initiate an international arrest warrant for the arrest of some officials including brother of former President Mahama for questioning.
Four British nationals including Mr. Mahama’s brother were said to be wanted by the Ghanaian authorities for questioning for their roles in the alleged bribery of Ghanaian officials in the purchase of the aircraft.
In a half-year report published on July 4, 2023, the OSP revealed that Airbus is alleged to have paid bribes in Ghana during the sale of three military aircraft. The company admitted hiring the brother of a top elected Ghanaian official whose identity was revealed as former President John Dramani Mahama as its consultant for the pitch to sell the aircraft to Ghana.
The investigation stems from a 2019 settlement reached between Airbus SE and authorities in the United Kingdom, France, and the United States. As part of the settlement, Airbus agreed to pay a record-breaking $4 billion fine to resolve allegations of bribery and corruption in multiple countries, including Ghana.
The allegations state that Airbus SE paid bribes to various individuals in Ghana in exchange for securing contracts related to the sale and purchase of military aircraft. These alleged bribes were said to have taken place between 2009 and 2015.
Per a report carried by The Sun, former President Mahama purportedly had link with the middlemen who facilitated the payment of the bribe to the key government officials when he was then the Vice President.
Since the settlement was announced, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has been actively pursuing the case and coordinating efforts with international partners to gather evidence and ensure a fair and transparent investigation.
The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng underscored the significance of collaboration between nations in battling debasement and considering those capable responsible.
The help of INTERPOL, as well as the focal specialists of the Unified Realm and the US, is critical in social occasion proof and uncovering reality behind the supposed pay off plot.
The shared legitimate help system considers the trading of data and collaboration between nations in criminal examinations, working with the examination cycle and it is guaranteed that equity.
The OSP examination additionally targets claimed debasement and defilement related offenses executed by certain authorities of the Bank of Ghana, banks, specific store taking organizations, and monetary holding organizations that hastened the breakdown of certain banks and monetary establishments and the monetary area tidy up and recapitalisation changes.
